Pavilion works update 24th May - sewer damage

I received an email this afternoon from Martin Hyde (Lewisham Council) with an update about an unforeseen  significant problem with the foul sewer connection.  It is essential for this problem to be resolved so that waste water and sewerage systems can be installed.  Thames Water's contractor have surveyed the sewer in Mayow Road.  Martin's message says:

I have asked Glendale to make an application to Thames Water for them to survey the site and quote for a new foul sewer connection from the existing drain to the road. As soon as we have this information I can seek additional funding to enable this work . With regards to the building itself the damaged sewer has inevitably caused some delay. Works are continuing with the main roof, which will be repaired, and the roof over the new toilets which will be replaced. Unfortunately the dry rot was worse than we had hoped for. Once the plaster had been hacked off it was evident that door and window lintels in the left hand side of the building (as you look from the front) would need to be replaced and new windows and doors installed. These additional costs will have to covered. A new, upgraded, electrical supply will be installed at the end of next week, this will provide a separate metered supply to Grow Mayow; the pavilion and bowls buildings; and separate supply for the café space.

Gardening on 30th March 2013

A bit of a miserable Easter weekend with snow and hail and very cold but work was needed on the Triangle to sort out the path and remove weeds round plants.
Some of the logs marking the path boundary have disappeared in the past fortnight which is very sad. Do people who take them realise the logs were put in by volunteers giving up their own time? Something needed to be done to keep the path visible, so a small log from home and a few lengths of salvaged planks came to the rescue. They have  filled some, but not all, of the gaps and the planks are less attractive than logs but they serve a purpose, until such time as we get replacement logs.
In the larger plant bed, all the fruit plants were weeded and well-rotted wood chip placed round them. Some of our park users have already added  salad leaves round one of the fruit trees (see picture) , but they could only be seen when the unwanted plants were removed. Thank you to the unknown people who did this planting.
In the herb bed, some dandelions were removed and garlic chives were sown. This growing season we plan to have beans and brassicas growing among the herbs as well as callaloo. The callaloo did not do too well last year so hopefully they will be taller and stronger this year.
If you have any thoughts about what to grow in the herb bed this year, or if you have plants and seeds to spare which you think could grow in the Triangle, do get in touch.

2013: What we've done, what we're doing

FOMP's year begins ...

with an AGM, where volunteers are elected for the essential roles of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, (Alona, Sue & Hilary) and there are also brief formal reports. This year FOMP is looking for more volunteers for handle communications, sports liaison, co-ordinating volunteers working on the Pavilion triangle and orchard, events, and representing the interests of dog-walkers, young people and families.

At the AGM, held February 19th, Tim Lund volunteered for the communications role, while Alona undertook to continue her work on the Triangle and orchard. So that still leaves us looking for sporty, young eventful family-oriented dog-walkers - well, you understand - doesn't have to be just one person, in fact, the more the merrier!

Other news ... 

• FOMP celebrates 20 years this spring, and a small celebration will mark the occasion. 
• Mayow, Sydenham Wells and Home Park Parks, in three different wards (Perry Vale, Sydenham, and Bellingham) through their User Groups have set up a forum to share common concerns. There will be a three parks walk some time in June. 
• 5th March 2013 will mark the long anticipated start of work - site set up, fencing, etc. - for the refurbishment of the pavilion, working closely with Iris to ensure minimal disruption to Grow Mayow. It is hoped to complete by end of June 2013, but damp rot in the building and stagnant water in the basement are possible risk factors. There would be weekly meetings with the contractors. 
• There will be two cricket clubs using Mayow Park as a base - Streatham and Marlborough and Caribbean Mix - and provisional match dates have now been published. Caribbean Mix were also proposing a week long cricket event in the first week of September. Glendale are working on changing facilities for the period before the completion of the pavilion. 
• Further sports activities planned are:
•  Junior football – midweek Primary Years 3 and 4 
• Midweek school use – Sports days 
• Park Active – half-terms and summer holidays run by TeachSport (free activities) 
• Park Run – Paul Harper was looking to encourage a weekly 5k run, currently held at Hilly Fields. The use of the cafe would help a lot with this,
• a potential cycle event, and not forgetting
• regular usage of the tennis courts and bowls green 
• Sydenham Arts Festival - we look forward to again hosting an event as part of the Sydenham Arts Festival

The Way Forward for FOMP 

Those attending the meeting were asked to write down their thoughts on the following questions:

• What do you think are the best features of Mayow Park?
• What is disappointing about Mayow Park?
• What do you see as the roles for Friends of Mayow Park?
• What will encourage more people to become involved with FOMP?

We hope to publish the results of this survey in due course.

Dog Activity Day - Mayow Park, Thursday 21 Feb

★ Agility sessions by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home ★
★ Bring your dog along and give them a workout ★
★ Robert Alleyne, star of TV’s Dog Borstal, will be giving out competition prizes ★
★ Free microchipping and tag engraving ★
Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times
For more information call 020 8314 2098 or visit www.lewisham.gov.uk
In association with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and the RSPCA

Mayow Park Proposed Cricket Fixtures 2013

Click on this fixtures list to see it magnified!

Anyone wishing to find out more about cricket in Mayow Park and how to make pitch bookings should contact the Glendale office on 020 8318 3968

FOMP AGM Tues 19 Feb 2013

The FOMP  Meeting which was due to take place on 19th January 2013 was postponed on the day because cold weather and icy pavements do not attract people to meetings.
The rescheduled FOMP Annual General Meeting  will be followed by a General Meeting and will  take place on Tuesday 19th February, staring at 7pm for a prompt finish at 8.30pm.
The AGM will be kept short.
The General Meeting will include discussions on the proposed Pavilion renovation, sports activities, the bowls club, the orchard and the Pavilion Triangle garden and thoughts for future activities.

Are there events you would like to see in the park?
Would you be interested in organising a community event?
This year also sees the 20th anniversary of the Friends group, which began life in 1993 as Mayow Park Users Group.

BULB PLANTING IN THE TRIANGLE December 2012

Two bulb planting sessions in Mayow Park on 8th December and 16th December with regular park users joining in. On 8th December a mother and her two children helped to plant 140 fritillaria around the holly tree and sitting logs near the path on the southern side of the Triangle.

The  holly trees  (left & right of  picture in middle distance)

A brother and sister planted fritillaria

A dad and his sons planted irises

16th December was a dry and sunny winter's day with plenty of visitors in the park. Two volunteers planted more fritillaries and some snowdrops by the holly tree and sitting logs on the north-eastern side of the Triangle. A father with his two sons were passing by and they joined in to plant irises on the slope by the Bowls club, on the western side of the Triangle to the right of the manhole cover and behind the silver birch trees. We have more bulbs to plant as soon as possible.